Results of otologic referrals in an industrial hearing conservation program.
Baseline and periodic audiometry was performed on noise-exposed workers in 21 industrial plants. Workers showing moderate hearing loss, asymmetry, or significant threshold shifts were referred for otologic evaluation. The overall referral rate was 2.76%. Of 107 referrals, 53% had otologic diagnoses other than noise-induced hearing loss, or required specific intervention, or both. The results support the use of criteria at least as stringent as those used in this study.
D001299:Audiometry; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D005189:False Positive Reactions; D006317:Hearing Loss, Noise-Induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000517:prevention & control*; D006319:Hearing Loss, Sensorineural / Q000517:prevention & control; D006801:Humans; D008403:Mass Screening / Q000379:methods*; D009464:Neuroma, Acoustic / Q000175:diagnosis; D009787:Occupational Medicine